TOWN AFFAIRS

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 8 September 1921, Page 3

TOWN AFFAIRS

[TO THE EDITOR]

Sir, —Would you kindly allow me space for a short review of town matters. In the first place I would like to give Dr. Meinhold credit for the example he has set his neighbours in particular, and the town in general, by his beautiful improvements at the new hospital grounds. The place was a desolation before, and is now the most attractive spot in the town. The arrangement of the grounds, with the lovely green terraces, is a work of art, and makes one feel better by looking at it. It is also arranged for the most economical upkeep, for the lawn mower does all that is required. Moreover the hospital is specially designed for a certain class of serious complaint very prevalent in this district ; and now, Doctor, may your shadow never grow less, and I raise my hat to you—or I would if it were not pinned on ! The hospital irnprovments, reaching to the back street, only accentuates the sordidness of the properties on both sides, which could be and should be made beauty spots in the central block of the town. The church authorities are not without blame in this respect, nor is the bank and another property reaching out to the main street, where the rotten tumbledown fences, and the heaps of clay and the unpainted houses, gives one a shiver after looking at the hospital grounds. We were promised great improvements in street-widening and other things, but what has been done? Apparently one side of the street has been brought into line, and the other side is left as a fitting memorial to broken promises and Town Board methods. And it is hoped that the Board will not be persuaded into buying a secondhand electric light plant. —I am, etc., Currer Bell.